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stack of homemade lemon bars
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5 from 16 votes

Homemade Lemon Bars

Homemade Lemon Bars, also known as Lemon Squares, are a super sweet and tart bar cookie. The base is a rich and delicious lemon shortbread. The top is a creamy and heavenly lemon custard layer. The ratio of lemon to shortbread is perfect. This is the best lemon bar recipe you will find!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
cool time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

Shortbread crust:

  • 3/4 cup butter softened (3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons)
  • 3/8 cup granulated sugar note: 3/8 cup equivalent to 6 Tablespoons (75 grams)
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • zest from one lemon equivalent to about 2 1/2 teaspoons (5 grams) of zest

Lemon layer

  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 4 eggs beaten
  • 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice may require 4-5 large lemons
  • sweetened dried lemon slices optional
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix and bake crust

  • In a medium bowl or your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat until well blended. Add flour and lemon zest and blend just until a crumb mixture forms.
    shortbread crust dough
  • Press into the bottom of an ungreased parchment lined 9x9 inch pan. Bake shortbread for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. 
    shortbread crust in square pan

Make filling and bake

  • While the crust is cooking, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a separate bowl. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
    lemon bars in pan just before going into oven
  • Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes. If adding sweetened dried lemon slices, press them into the top a few minutes before the baking is complete. Remove from oven and allow bars to cool to room temperature.
    freshly baked lemon bars in pan

Chill and slice

  • Transfer pan to the refrigerator and allow bars to chill. The bars will firm up as they cool.
  • Once chilled, remove from pan. Optional: dust with powdered sugar.
    dusting lemon bars with powdered sugar
  • To serve, cut into nine 3-inch squares for large lemon bars or 16 smaller 2-inch squares.
    slicing homemade lemon squares

Notes

serving size is one 2-inch bar

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 43mg | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.9mg